CHAPTER 457: 457. WYVERN NEST (2/3)

Tyler slowly opened the heavy stone door. As it creaked ajar, a faint shimmer rippled across the frame— an iridescent bubble blocking entry like a magical membrane. Tyler reached out, and his gloved hand slipped through effortlessly.

"It’s permeable," he said via Voice transmission.

Without hesitation, both he and Lily stepped inside.

The moment they crossed the threshold, Lily deactivated the Underwater Breathing Amulet resting against her collarbone. The azure glow faded, and she exhaled slowly, brushing a strand of damp hair from her cheek.

A pale mist coalesced around Tyler, and from within his shadow, a spectral figure emerged—Mana in her adult ghost form. She appeared ethereal, draped in a flowing white yukata-like dress with long sleeves that fluttered like silk underwater. Unlike her usual look, she didn’t wear her Phantom Mask today. Instead, her long hair bangs veiled half her face, giving her an eerie, melancholic beauty. Yet, even without the mask, the enchantment it once held still clung to her aura. Anyone who looked directly at her would find their perception subtly distorted, unable to clearly recall her features.

Mana stretched both arms above her head, a soft sigh escaping her lips. "Finally... after a long sleep."

"Ghosts sleep?" Lily tilted her head, genuinely curious.

"She even eats. Why can’t she sleep?" Tyler’s eyes trailed toward Mana’s breast "Hmm... Seems like everything she eats goes there, huh..."

Mana blinked, pouting. "What was that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing," Tyler replied innocently, a faint grin beneath his Phantom Mask.

"Where are we?" Mana asked, glancing at the room— massive, ancient, and scaled far beyond human proportions.

"We’re in the Wyvern Nest," Tyler explained. "This chamber acts as a natural rest zone. The air is sealed tight inside, allowing people to breathe freely. We’re already deep beneath the ocean, but there’s no water pressure here. Just massive, interconnected halls."

"The place feels... too quiet," Mana said, her voice echoing slightly in the vastness.

"There are multiple rooms," Tyler continued, "but most are like Giant race-sized. We’ve checked a bunch of them already."

"Did you find the Dragon Princess?" Mana’s tone was laced with mild impatience.

"Nope," Lily answered as she was about to use another Charm to dry her up but Tyler stopped her.

"You are going to get wet again so why?" Tyler asked.

Lily pouted and continued, "The Wyvern Nest is way bigger than we estimated. We’ve bumped into a few adventurers along the way, but no sign of her."

Mana’s eyes flicked toward Lily, who was still dripping wet from the underwater swim. "Temptress, your suit is rather... daring."

Lily smirked and jabbed back, "You’re in no position to judge, Miss Ghost Princess. Especially with those Thighs and Breasts."

Mana huffed.

"Alright, what’s the plan now?" Tyler asked, redirecting the conversation.

Lily tapped the crystal interface on her wrist. A small cylindrical projection emerged, showing a translucent 3D map of the Nest. She rotated the map with her fingers and zoomed into a sector near the bottom.

"This is where we are," she pointed. "We’ve already scouted these upper floors. Our next move is down— here." She marked the section with a quick swipe.

"Sounds easy," Tyler said, though his tone was skeptical.

Lily didn’t miss it. "Did you finish the novel I gave you?" she asked, raising a brow.

"Yeah. I speed-read it. Typical face-slapping fantasy— MC gets underestimated, and then turns the tables on some arrogant fool."

"Good," Lily nodded. "Then keep it fresh in your memory. The author left clues about this place in that novel. It’s not just fluff."

"Wait. A novel that has clues for this Place? What Novel ?" Mana interjected.

"Trials?" Tyler echoed. "I thought this Nest was already looted long ago."

Lily smirked. "Rebirth of the Heavenly Demon Emperor. Ring any bells?"

Mana’s eyes narrowed in thought. "Oh, that one. I read it years and years ago when I was Alive. It was okay."

"It’s weird when you don’t speak in illeism.," Tyler muttered.

"I don’t know why that happens either," Mana said, genuinely confused. "Whenever I shift to my younger form, I slip into it."

"You two always veer off-topic," Lily sighed. "Listen— this place still holds Games."

Tyler blinked. "You mean those games? Divine Trials? The survival ones left behind by the gods?!"

Lily nodded. "Exactly. As I said before, They’re still active in the North."

Tyler groaned. "Tsk... And here I thought we will never came across it. Looks like my luck is lacking ."

In truth, He’d completely forgotten about the Survival Games scattered around the North—challenges left behind by ancient deities. They hadn’t run into many, thanks to Lily’s careful navigation, but they were still active even after two Million years.

"Well, if it’s one of those, then we better tread carefully," Mana said, floating slightly above the floor.

"Right. Let’s continue our search." Lily said, turning toward the exit.

"Wait— please, wait!" a voice called out behind them.

All three turned sharply.

From the same tunnel they had entered, a young man stumbled forward, soaked from head to toe. His blonde hair clung to his face, and his shining silver armor reflected the chamber’s faint light. A skull-and-crossbones emblem adorned his chestplate—clearly marking him as a pirate.

"Greetings, fair adventurers!" he announced with a confident grin. "My name is Carlos. Carlos Beckman! The most handsome pirate in the Northern Waters."

He puffed out his chest dramatically, as if expecting applause.

Behind him, two more figures followed— likely his crew, both armed and curious.

Mana, unimpressed, floated forward. "Never heard of you," she said coldly. "And I don’t particularly care for narcissistic pretty boys."

Carlos’s grin twitched, faltering.

"Now, now—no need to be so cruel, darling. Don’t waste your breath on a Self-Bimbo," Lily interrupted with a honeyed tone, flipping her wet hair back. "He might have a reason for talking to us."

"Wait... Bimbo?" Carlos’s brows furrowed in confusion. A moment later, his cheeks flushed red with realization and indignation. "Hey! That was uncalled for!"

While the two women traded barbs with the flamboyant pirate, Tyler remained quiet, eyes narrowed behind his mask, as if processing something deeper. His gaze lingered on Carlos and his two Lackey.

As the silence deepened, the air between the two groups became heavy with tension. Carlos, clad in fine Armour and carrying the arrogance of one born with status, looked past the two beauties with disdain, locking his gaze on Tyler.

"How dare you talk to me like that? And why are you looking at me like that?" he barked, his voice laced with irritation, clearly directing his anger at Tyler instead of the girls.

Tyler tilted his head innocently, as if genuinely confused. "Me? It was them," he replied, pointing to Lily and Mana without even blinking.

"You dare to mock me?" Carlos’s voice rose sharply. His veins pulsed on his forehead, pride wounded. "Do you even know who I am? Do you know who my father is?" His chest puffed with indignation. "Kneel down and kiss my feet, then offer those two beauties to me. I might leave your corpse intact."

Tyler’s eyes widened— not from anger, but surprise. Not at the threat itself, but something else entirely.

Lily, standing beside him, caught the subtle shift in his expression. Her lips curved into a knowing smirk. She had already suspected it from the moment Carlos appeared, but she’d decided to wait and see when Tyler would catch on.

Mana, on the other hand, was clearly baffled. Her brows furrowed in disbelief. Is this guy an idiot? she thought, already considering a hundred different ways to beat Carlos into a pulp.

Carlos noticed Lily’s smirk, and it drove him into further rage. "You dare laugh at me.!" he pointed at Tyler.

Then he pointed at his bodyguards on either side. "Break his legs and make him kneel before me!"

Tyler raised his hand lazily, as if trying to halt the absurdity. "As I said, it wasn’t me. It was them." He seemed genuinely dumbfounded now.

The two lackeys didn’t listen. With a nod to each other, they darted forward with remarkable speed, blades gleaming like there is a Sunlight underwater as they aimed for Tyler’s knees.

But Tyler merely sighed.

Thud!

He lifted his right leg and kicked the man on the left.

Bam!

Then lifted his left and kicked the one on the right.

Like ragdolls, the two attackers flew through the air, tumbling over Carlos’s shoulders and crashing to the ground behind him with a groan. Their weapons clattered, and silence once again returned to the room.

Carlos stared blankly at the fallen men. Then, forcing a hideous smile, he tried to salvage the situation. "Ahh... It’s a misunderstanding..."

Tyler took a step forward.

Slap!

Carlos didn’t even see the hand move. The next thing he knew, the world spun. His feet left the ground, and he crashed onto the floor, cheek red and throbbing.

Then, before anyone could blink, Carlos and his lackeys began to flicker—like illusions. Their bodies shimmered and then burst into small soap-like bubbles, fading into nothingness.

Both Tyler and Lily was not suprised.

Mana finally pieced it together. Her eyes widened. "Oh... oh... OH!!! I get it now! That was a trial!"

She clapped her hands in realization.